THE PROBLEM OF OVERCROWDING IN LONG TERM FEDERAL PRISONS IS EXAMINED FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE HIGH COSTS OF IMPRISONMENT, THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THE OVERCROWDING SITUATION, THE LIMITED CONTROL OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS OVER THE SIZE OF THE PRISON POPULATIONS, THE LIMITED DEGREE TO WHICH THE BUREAU CAN ADOPT PROGRAMS PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, THE RELUCTANCE OF THE BUREAU TO UTILIZE COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTERS, AND THE POSSIBLE ELIMINATION OF FEDERAL PRISONS IN FAVOR OF TOTAL RELIANCE ON STATE FACILITIES. ALTERNATIVES FOR HOUSING FEDERAL PRISONERS INCLUDE: AIDING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING FACILITIES TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR FEDERAL AS WELL AS NON-FEDERAL PRISONERS; DECREASING EMPHASIS ON INSTITUTION-BASED PROGRAMS; UTILIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FACILITIES; AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW OR EXPANSION OF EXISTING FEDERAL FACILITIES. IN EXAMINING EACH ALTERNATIVE CONSIDERATION MUST BE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: INCREASED COSTS AND THE UTILITY OF ADDED EXPENDITURES COMPARED WITH INCREASED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL INCARCERATION SYSTEM; THE RELUCTANCE OF STATE GOVERNMENTS TO BECOME INVOLVED AND ASSUME RESPONSILIBITY FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS; THE PROBLEM OF FINDING SUITABLE LOCATIONS FOR MINIMUM SECURITY FACILITIES AND HALFWAY HOUSES; THE RELUCTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO MAKE ITS FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM; AND THE ENORMOUS ADDITIONAL COSTS REQUIRED TO EXPAND EXISTING FEDERAL FACILITIES OR TO CONSTRUCT NEW ONES. (DJM)